'Unsettling and very upsetting' - Harrogate club repeatedly targeted by vandals

Paul Cairns at the rear of the building showing how many windows have been smashed. Picture: Gerard Binks.

Members of a long-established dance and social club in Harrogate are fearing what they could find next at their beloved building, following a spate of mindless vandalism which has seen no less than 14 windows being smashed.

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St George's Dance and Social Club, which sits on St George's Road, has been open for more than 40 years and has only ever experienced rare incidents of minor vandalism - until now.

In the space of just a month, the club has been targeted multiple times, leaving some of its 150 members feeling apprehensive to visit the place that they've treasured for so many years - a place that's brought them friendship, joy and laughter.

The chairman of the club, Paul Cairns. Picture: Gerard Binks.

The chairman of the club, Paul Cairns, said: "It is very upsetting - most of the club members are senior citizens, and have been going to the club for years and years.

"Members are still coming to support the club, but their faces drop when they see another boarded up window. They're apprehensive when they arrive, as they're wondering what they are going to find or see next.

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"It's unsettling and very upsetting to see this mindless vandalism. We have a great fondness for the place, and hate to see this happening. We talked and said, 'should we abandon the club and just board up every window so that they can't break it?' But we decided we have to keep it going - it's a phenomenal community resource.